HOCKEY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24986, 21 September 1946, Page 2

HOCKEY

...» TOUR BY INDIAN TEAM SERVICES’ SIDE TO PAY VISIT NEXT YEAR Advice from General Headquarters of the Indian Army, that the terms Of NfeW Zealand’s invitation for a combined services’ team to tour the Dominion in 1947 had been accepted, was received at a meeting of the management committee Of toe New Zealand Hockey Association on Thursday evening. The team will consist Of six Officers from the Royal Indian Navy, Army, and Royal Indian Air Force, and 12 other ranks; The name of the manager Of the team will be announced as soon as the Commander-in-Chief has given his approval to the appointment. The team will arrive in New Zealand before the end of May, 1947, provided that suitable shipping is available. The chairman, Mr H. 8. J. Goodman, Stated that in extending the invitation, emphasis had been given to the necessity Of the team from India being of the highest possible calibre, in view of the improved standard of play of hockey in New Zealand. To strengthen the Indian Army team representatives would be selected from the Indian Air Force and Navy, so that a really first-class side Would be assembled for the tour. The secretary, Mr W. H. Down, reported that until shipping movements for hext year were mote clearly defined, it Would not be possible to work out an itinerary for the New Zealand tour, not to decide how many of the minor centres in New Zealand would be allotted matches. The team would be in New Zealand for approximately 11 weeks, and would be prepared to play two mid-week matches each week in addition to the Saturday games, but the visitors would require a short rest before each test match. ....